WEC GTE World Titles Confirmed For 2017

A bonus article for Wednesday. 

World Championship titles for GTE drivers and manufacturers will be added to the FIA World Endurance Championship beginning next year, following Wednesday's FIA World Motorsport Council meeting in Vienna.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/gte-world-titles-announced-for-wec-in-2017/

Economic Strength and Car Counts

From a couple days ago.  Ben Wedge writing for NASportscar.com talks about how economics affects car counts for the sports car races.  This is pretty fascinating.

http://nasportscar.com/economic-strength-and-car-counts/

PWC: Gainsco/Bob Stallings switches to Porsche

After debuting in Pirelli World Challenge in 2016, Gainsco/Bob Stallings Racing, will switch manufacturers for it's sophomore season, moving from McLaren, to Porsche.

http://www.racer.com/pwc/item/136842-pwc-gainsco-switches-to-porsche-for-2017

Thiim Praises BoP for Aston Martin GTE-Pro Title Success

Nicki Thiim is delighted to have won the LM GTE-Pro championship in the FIA WEC for Aston Martin.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/thiim-praises-bop-for-aston-gte-pro-title-success/

2017 PWC Race Format Confirmed

Here is a story, published last week, on the format for Pirelli World Challenge races in 2017.  There will be five races for the Sprint Championship and five races for the SprintX Championship.  GTS/GT4 will have a sprint race format that carries over from the 2016 season.

http://sportscar365.com/gt/world-challenge/2017-pwc-race-format-confirmed/

This news is also in the article.  But, here is the full 2017 PWC race schedule.

2017 Pirelli World Challenge Schedule:

Mar. 10-12 – St. Petersburg (Sprint)
Apr. 7-9 – Long Beach (Sprint – GT/GTA Only)
Apr. 28-30 – Virginia International Raceway (SprintX)
May 19-21 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (SprintX)
May 26-27 – Lime Rock Park (SprintX)
June 23-25 – Road America (Sprint)
July 28-30 – Mid Ohio (Sprint)
Aug. 11-13 – Utah Motorsports Campus (SprintX)
Sept. 1-3 – Circuit of The Americas (SprintX)
Sept. 15-17 – Sonoma Raceway (Sprint)
Oct. 13-15 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (Intercontinental GT Challenge)

Seidl (Porsche): "This is All You Can Dream of For Two Seasons in a Row"

Porsche LMP1 team boss Andreas Seidl has proclaimed 2016 to be one of the best season's ever for Porsche in endurance sports car racing.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/seidl-porsche-this-is-all-you-can-dream-of-for-two-seasons-in-a-row/

FIA WEC news in brief

A couple notable headlines from the FIA World Endurance Championship.  Hoping to review some of the IMSA items (including races), yours truly missed, over the off season.

VIDEO: ESM WEC Season Recap
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-esm-wec-season-recap/

Collard, Perrodo Step Up to LMP2 With TDS Racing
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/collard-perrodo-step-up-to-lmp2-with-tds-racing/

Sven Mueller Promoted to Porsche Factory Driver
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/sven-mueller-promoted-to-porsche-factory-driver/

Finally, a book review.  A book has been written, chronicling Porsche's record 18th overall Le Mans win from this year's race.

REVIEW: Porsche Victory 2016
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/review-porsche-victory-2016/

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: Singing Off On 18 Years of Excellence With Audi

The final interview with the head of Audi Sport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, as Audi now races off into the sunset after a remarkable career and legacy in the world of sports car racing.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/11/25/dr-wolfgang-ullrich-signing-off-on-18-years-of-excellence-with-audi.html

SVG to swap Europe for IMSA Mercedes Program

After clashes between Australian Supercars and GT racing, Shane van Gisbergen has left McLaren, and racing in Europe, and will now join Mercedes, to race in the car that also has the series sponsor, in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship.  WeatherTech Racing will race a new Mercedes AMG GT3.

http://www.speedcafe.com/2016/11/25/svg-swap-europe-imsa-mercedes-program/

More Breaking FIA WEC News

Some urgent news from the FIA World Endurance Championship, including breaking news from Porsche.

Nissan Bows Out of LMP2 With WEC Season Sweep
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/nissan-bows-out-of-lmp2-with-wec-season-sweep/

Jani: "You Win A Championship By Surviving Your Bad Moments"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jani-you-win-a-championship-by-surviving-your-bad-moments/

WEC, GTE Manufacturers Working On Revised BoP Process
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wec-gte-manufacturers-developing-revised-bop-process/

The latest Double Stint Podcast.

Double Stint: Bahrain Recap; Oliver Jarvis Interview (11-23-16)
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-bahrain-recap-oliver-jarvis-interview-11-23-16/

Four-time Le Mans winner Yannick Dalmas tells what it was like to drive a modern LMP1 prototype race car.

Dalmas: "As Driver Advisor, It Was Interesting To Test the LMP1 Cars"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dalmas-as-driver-advisor-it-was-very-interesting-to-test-the-lmp1-cars/

Beaumesnil: Additional LMP1 Privateer Interest for 2018
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/beaumesnil-additional-lmp1-privateer-interest-for-2018/

Alonso Downplays Rumors of WEC Move
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/alonso-downplays-rumors-of-move-to-wec/

Holt (Multimatic): "A Successful Year on Both Sides of Atlantic"

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/holt-multimatic-a-hugely-successful-year-on-both-sides-of-the-atlantic/

World Champions Dumas, Lieb Dropped by Porsche LMP1 Team
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dumas-lieb-dropped-by-porsche-lmp1-team/

Inside The New Mid-Engined Porsche 911 RSR
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/inside-the-new-mid-engined-porsche-911-rsr/

2001 6 Hours of the Glen

Reliving another sports car race from the past, here's the 2001 Speedvision broadcast of the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series 6 Hours of The Glen from Watkins Glen International Raceway.  Rick Benjamin and David Hobbs, in the booth, and Guy Hobbs and John Bisignano in the pit lane, call the action. 

Can We Please Stop the Driver Ratings Madness?

Matt Kistler from NASportscar.com, opines on the problems with the FIA's Driver Ratings system.

http://nasportscar.com/can-we-please-stop-the-driver-ratings-madness/

Bahrain Content Recap

Reports and photos from this past weekend's FIA World Endurance Championship season finale in Bahrain, ICYMI.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-content-recap-2/

FIA WEC news after Bahrain

Here's the latest news after the season finale of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season, as we look ahead to 2017, and, also, there is a test session going on in Bahrain, today.

AMR's Thiim, Sorensen Win 6H Bahrain; GT Driver's Title
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/amrs-thiim-sorensen-win-6h-bahrain-gt-drivers-title/

Audi Takes Emotional 1-2 in Final Race; Porsche Wins Drivers Title
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/audi-takes-emotional-1-2-in-final-race-porsche-win-drivers-title/

Leupen: Toyota Performance Didn't Match Expectations
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/leupen-toyota-performance-didnt-match-expectations/

Bahrain Post-Race Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-post-race-notebook-2/

LMP1 Regulations Freeze Confirmed Through 2019
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lmp1-regulations-freeze-confirmed-through-2019/

Menezes: "It's Like Getting in a Rocket Ship"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/menezes-its-like-getting-in-a-rocket-ship/

Beaumesnil: LMP1 Will Remain Tech Leader Despite Regulations Freeze

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/beaumesnil-lmp1-will-remain-technology-leader-despite-regs-freeze/

Lynn Targets Full-Time Sports Car Switch
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lynn-targets-full-time-sportscar-switch/

Porsche Tops WEC Rookie Test
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-tops-wec-rookie-test/

Kubica Chasing WEC Drive
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kubica-chasing-wec-drive-in-2017/

Rusinov Threatens To Leave WEC in Driver Rating Dispute
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rusinov-threatens-to-leave-wec-in-driver-rating-dispute/

6 Hours of Bahrain race highlights

The short highlights of yesterday's FIA WEC season finale in Bahrain, that saw Porsche win the title, and Audi, go out in true style, with a race victory.

Winner & Highlights of the 6 Hours of Bahrain + 2016 FIA World Endurance Champions

We have reached the finale of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship season, the 6 Hours of Bahrain, at the Sakhir Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain.  Before the race got started, tributes were paid both to Mark Webber, who runs his final FIA World Endurance Championship event, and final race of his career, today, and to Audi, who also run their final ever sports car race today before exiting the sport after an amazing 17 year career, that includes 13 overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Webber was given a standing ovation in the driver's briefing.  Once again, tribute was also paid to Audi.  A thank you was also given to Audi Sport team boss, an icon of sports car racing in the 21st century, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

In qualifying for the 6 Hours of Bahrain it was run under the lights, on a very warm evening, here in Bahrain.  Sakhir is a half hour's drive away from the capitol city of Manama.  The GT cars were the first ones to go out on track to set times.  Some drivers were scolded early by the stewards for track limits violations.  Be sure, that the quick lap you are on is between the white lines and actually on the blacktop, ladies and gentlemen.  Had they been on pole, the #83 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia in the hands of Francois Perrodo of France, Emmanuel Collard of France (a veteran endurance driver), and Portugal's Rui Aguas, would have locked up the championship in the LM GTE Am class with their Ferrari 458 Italia.

It was Pedro Lamy in one of the Aston Martin's making certain that the race for the title would indeed happen in the race itself.  The Ferrari 488's have been a tad off in their performance in LM GTE Pro.  Or, are they hiding their cards close to their chests right now?  The best effort by a Ferrari was third in class.  The #95 Aston Martin V8 Vantage ended up second in LM GTE Pro.  However, they could not compete with their team car #97.  Darren Turner and Johnny Adam (on his return to the WEC), nabbed pole position in class.  Let us now fast forward, to the final 20 minutes of qualifying for the big boys in the big toys.  It's Prototype qualifying in Bahrain!

This would be the final ever qualifying session for Audi Sport Team Joest.  Here's how LMP2 shook out.  Third best in class, the #44 Manor Oreca 05 Nissan shared by Matt Rao, Richard Bradley, and Alex Lynn.  Second place (going for pole but missing it, still tied in the championship lead), was the #36 Signatech Alpine A460 Nissan with Gustavo Menezes, Nicolas Lapierre, and Stephane Richelmi sharing the driving chores.  For the sixth time in 2016, it's the #26 crew from G-Drive Racing in their Oreca 05 Nissan, starting on pole.  Congratulations to Romain Rusinov, Rene Rast, and Alex Brundle.  They start on the LMP2 pole.

Now for the real fireworks.  Who would win pole overall in LMP1 Hybrid?  The #2 Porsche 919 squad are nearly champions.  But, almost, just isn't enough for Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, and Marc Lieb.  Lieb could only qualify third.  Ahead of him, outgoing world champion, Timo Bernhard in the #1 919 he shares with Mark Webber and Kiwi Brendon Hartley.  But, in their final ever race, Audi, is on pole with the #8 Audi R18 of Lucas Di Grassi, Loic Duval, and Oliver Jarvis.  The pre-race, and all the talk, is over.  No more talk.  Only do.  We are ready, for the 6 Hours of Bahrain.

We start the race, with the green flag being waved for the formation lap, as Race Director Edoardo Freitas keys the radio to the drivers.  There are two formation laps.  Tom Kristensen is here to watch.  We have the first formation lap as a lap of honor for Audi, celebrating their 17-18 year run in the world of top level sports car racing.  Freitas says, "Audi is leaving home, and as a family, we await it's return home to endurance racing, where it truly belongs.  From our side, thank you for everything."  Those sentiments are deeply echoed here, too.  Godspeed, Audi.  Six Hours on the clock.

A very long hold before they get to the start finish line.  Red lights, on.  Red lights, out!  Away we go for the start of the 2016 FIA WEC season finale!  The pole sitting Audi leads the charge as in the back of the field, cars are going six wide!  The LMP2 boys better straighten out fast, or they will be in for a real shemozzle into this first series of corners!  Beyond that little mess at the start, let's have a look at all of what happened in the first hour.  In that early stacking up we saw at the start, Alex Lynn moved down from third in class to at least sixth or seventh position.  Fast and frantic action at the sharp end as Audi and Toyota swapped positions.  The #6 Toyota went inside Marcel Fassler in Audi #7 and almost ran into the #1 Porsche!

Timo Bernhard is at the controls of the Porsche, presently.  Not sure which of the three drivers is in the Toyota.  It's probably Stephane Sarrazin, their most veteran driver.  Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi, will get their turns at the wheel during this race for sure.  Marcel Fassler in the #7 Audi tees up the Toyota, zaps on the hybrid energy recovery boost, and pushes the bye bye button, overtaking the red and white car.  We have a fair old scrap going in LM GTE Am as well between Porsche 911 RSR #86 in the hands of Mike Wainright (part of a trio of Brits in that car along with Ben Barker and Adam Carroll), making a move on the #98 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.  Paul Dalla Lana has no doubt started that car, sharing with Mathias Lauda and Formula 1 and sports car veteran, Pedro Lamy.

Barker is in the car for the first stint and he's had a fantastic drive.  Barker is second in class.  Now, Marcel Fassler wants to pass Timo Bernhard and these two are going to go at it hammer and tongs for a while.  ESM has also been running well before they move full-time back to IMSA competition in the United States in 2017.  Pippo Derani makes a move on his team mate.  The #30 car Tom Dillman of England, sharing with Sean Gelael and Giedo van der Garde this weekend, while the sister car #31 that Derani drives, he shares with regular co-drivers Ryan Dalziel and Chris Cumming.  Audi vs. Porsche and Audi #7 passes Porsche #1 in turn four.  Dr. Ullrich is appreciative.  We watch Mark Webber in pit lane, contemplating what will be the final drive of his career in a Porsche LMP1 racer.

Marcel Fassler has gone around Porsche #1, but it was much easier to dispose of the sister #2 car with Neel Jani at the controls.  Jani is struggling with the grip on his front tires.  The two Toyota's change places going through lapped traffic.  But then, a potentially dramatic moment for Porsche at the end of the first hour.  The #78 KCMG Porsche 911 RSR blends across the right side of the road and slams the left rear of the #2 Porsche which is currently leading in the driver's championship.  Pit stop time for Porsche, to replace a punctured tire.  Car #78 has been given the black and white penalty flag for that avoidable contact.

The #78 LM GTE Am class Porsche 911 RSR is shared by German's Christian Ried and Wolf Henzler (a veteran GT driver), and Swiss driver Joel Camathias.  In the meantime, more GT action as Ferrari and Aston Martin swap places.  At that point, both Aston Martin's have gone around the Ferrari, one of the AF Corse cars.  What does a driver do on his break out of the car?  Well, Porsche's Marc Lieb is kicking the soccer ball around a bit.  Could he have a future career as a footballer?  That remains to be seen.

We fast forward through the race action and there's a couple seconds between the two Audi's with Brendon Hartley another 48 seconds behind the leader.  The Toyota's are a bit further behind.  Kazuki Nakajima currently in the #5 car and in #6, Mike Conway.  Those are the top five cars, as we have just over three and a half hours now remaining, in our highlighted coverage of the 6 Hours of Bahrain.  These cars racing through the darkness with headlights on and brake discs glowing, is quite the sight to behold.  We take a look at what happened in the race's third hour.  We are halfway home now, in Bahrain.

Sebastien Buemi and Mark Webber battled in the darkness with Buemi locking the brakes and smoking the tires on his #5 Toyota TS050 Hybrid.  The LMP2 contenders were having some of the best battles on the road at this juncture.  But then, more drama!  Paul Dalla Lana, trying to keep his and Aston Martin's hopes alive in the LM GTE Am championship, lost a wheel and had loads of smoke spewing from the left rear corner of the V8 Vantage.  Dalla Lana, unquestionably immediately dove for the pit lane.  Poor old Johnny Adam, back at Aston Martin for the first time in a wee while, suffered the same fate, but it was the right rear tire that departed the car.  You've picked a fine time to leave me, loose wheel.

Correction.  Adam, lost the right front wheel.  Nonetheless, a full course yellow was deployed, the first of the race.  Aston Martin #95 in the hands of Nikki Thiim and Marco Sorensen was running well, as was the #88 Abu Dhabi Proton Porsche 911 RSR in LM GTE Am.  Khaled Al Qubaisi, David Heinemeier Hanson, and Patrick Long, at the wheel of it.  The #95 led LM GTE Pro, the #36 Alpine, LMP2, and overall, the #8 Audi R18.

We now press the fast forward button, to hour five.  One hour remains in the race.  One hour remains, in the 2016 FIA WEC season.  We've seen a real dogfight in LMP2 and it's been between Signatech Alpin and RGR Sport by Morand.  Actually, five or six cars in the class, have led it.  Kind of amazing, isn't it?  With the already documented tire problems for Aston Martin, the LM GTE Pro championship has gone the way of AF Corse!  Check that.  The Aston fell out with engine issues and then the sister car with Johnny Adam at the keyboard, lost a wheel.  Darren Turner has had to claw his way back through the field since then.

Both Toyota's have kept the Porsche's and the Audi's honest this entire race.  But, they just haven't been too much of a factor at the front.  A little tradin' paint between G Drive and RGR Sport.  Tradin' paint, argy bargy, dodge 'em cars... call it what you like.  It was intense.  That's real racing.  No action taken by the stewards for that little battle.  Patrick Long for local team Abu Dhabi Proton Racing, leads in LM GTE Am right now.  We now have under an hour to go in the season.  Stay tuned for the conclusion of this one.

We've seen high emotion and high drama this whole race.  We wish Audi godspeed.  Porsche #2 despite not having a podium since winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in that bizarre finish, they will go on to win the championship.  The final pit stops Audi will ever make in competition in WEC, were done with aplomb and with Audi style.  We have seen more than 15 overall lead changes through the course of today's six hour race.  Mark Webber's driving career is also the end of an era and a sendoff for the outgoing world champions at Porsche.  They will take the 919 Hybrid to third place in the overall.  The racing in other categories isn't over yet.  LMP2 still has to be settled.

Rene Rast and Filipe Albuqerque have battled all day long.  Rast gets the better of Albuquerque.  Abu Dhabi Racing will win in their home event here in Bahrain, with drivers Khaled Al Qubaisi, David Heinemeier Hanson, and Patrick Long.  Aston Martin takes the LM GTE Pro win.  Audi ends an era in sports car racing that will never, ever be forgotten, with a 1-2 finish!  Extraordinary scenes in pit lane as all competitors applauded the Audi crew for their victory in their sendoff from a decorated 17 year career in endurance sports car racing.  Audi celebrates, and so does Porsche.  The #2 team of Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, and Marc Lieb, they are not just Le Mans winners.  They are the 2016 FIA World Endurance Champions!

We have a look at our final class winners and our champions.

Overall/LMP1: #8 Di Grassi/Duval/Jarvis     Audi R18

             LMP2: #26 Rusinov/Rast/Brundle    Oreca 05 Nissan

             LM GTE Pro: #95 Thiim/Sorenson   Aston Martin V8 Vantage

             LM GTE Am: #88 Al Qubaisis/Heinemeier Hanson/Long     Porsche 911 RSR
 
Today has been a day of remembering great races, and saying farewell to friends and rivals alike.  Audi wins their 107th victory in a total of 187 career races since 1999.  What a phenomenal achievement.  Yours truly, has been there, most of the way, seeing the Audi team grow and mature into the true motorsports and sports car racing dynasty it became.  They can hold onto a better than 50% win rate in world class motor racing.  What an amazing group of people.  What an amazing team.  They've put it all together, especially within the last five years as competitors in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

We remember their success in the United States as well, where they won lots of races with factory cars and also had customer teams in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.  Audi Sport UK, Stefan Johansson's Gulf team, Champion Racing, and Team Goh.  We pay tribute, too, to a world champion, Mark Webber.  This was his second go around in endurance racing, having also nearly won an FIA GT World Championship with Mercedes way back in 1998.  Mark Webber was the first person to sign on with Porsche in 2014, helping to develop the 919 Hybrid into what it is, a world class race car, today.  Within half a year, and in a stunning race at Fuji, Japan, he was on top of everything in the FIA WEC.

Webber now starts life as a former Porsche world champion, which will always be with him, and an ambassador to the brand itself.  Godspeed, Mark Webber.  Cheers, mate, for a job well done.  That is the end of another great season, and an end of an era for Audi.  Audi, we will miss you.  Look for a wrap up of this race, tomorrow, with new coverage, and also more off season coverage from the WEC here on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog.  What a season it was in 2016.  We'll see you again, next year, in 2017.

So long, for now, everyone.


     

more FIA WEC news from Bahrain

As we prepare for tomorrow's finale of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Bahrain, here is more news from the series leading up to the race.  Remember, coverage on Endurance... The Sports Car Racing Blog, will be limited, to an abbreviated race report, after the race is over.

Porsche Reveals Mid-Engined 911 RSR
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-reveals-mid-engined-911-rsr/

Walliser: Mid-Engined Porsche 911 RSR Within GTE Rules
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/walliser-mid-engined-porsche-911-rsr-within-gte-rules/

BR Engineering, Dallara Join Forces for LMP1 Project with SMP
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/br-engineering-dallara-team-up-for-lmp1-project/

Porsche Tops Free Practice 1 in Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jani-fastest-in-bahrain-free-practice-1/

VIDEO: SMP Racing on Move to LMP1
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-smp-racing-on-step-up-to-lmp1/

Jani Fastest on Thursday at Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jani-fastest-on-thursday-at-bahrain/

Howarth (AMR): Title Challenge The Result of "Marginal Gains"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/howarth-amr-title-challenge-the-result-of-marginal-gains/

Bahrain Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-thursday-notebook-3/

Porsche Quickest Again in FP3
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-again-in-fp3-2/

Lietz Reflects on Outgoing Porsche 911 RSR
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/lietz-reflects-on-outgoing-911-rsr/

How does a driver change work?  RGR Sport explains.

VIDEO: Behind The Scenes with RGR Sport: Driver Changes & Seat Inserts

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-behind-the-scenes-with-rgr-sport-driver-changes-seat-inserts/

VIDEO: Aston Martin Mannequin Challenge
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-aston-martin-racing-mannequin-challenge/

Aston Martin Sweeps GTE Qualifying in Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/aston-martin-sweeps-gte-qualifying-in-bahrain-2/

Di Grassi, Jarvis Score Pole for Audi's Final Race
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/di-grassi-jarvis-score-pole-in-audis-final-race/

Plus, additional late breaking news before the race tomorrow.

VIDEO: Bahrain Qualifying Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-bahrain-qualifying-highlights-3/

G-Drive Loses Bahrain LMP2 Pole
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/g-drive-lose-6h-bahrain-lmp2-pole/

Bahrain Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-friday-notebook-3/

Gibson-Powered Onroak Ligier LMP2 Impresses In North American Debut for PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports

Not only that, but SunEnergy Racing also had a successful outing in the Daytona test with their new Mercedes AMG GT3 in GT Daytona.  Check out both stories in the same link, HERE:

http://www.imsa.com/news/112016/gibson-powered-onroak-ligier-lm-p2-impresses-north-american-debut-pr1mathiasen

Anticipation Builds for 2017 IMSA WeatherTech Championship as New GT Daytona Models Begin Testing

A follow-up story to the videos posted earlier of the new GT Daytona cars testing at Daytona International Speedway.

http://www.imsa.com/news/112016/anticipation-builds-2017-imsa-weathertech-championship-new-gt-daytona-models-begin

2016 IMSA November Daytona Testing

Videos from YouTube uploaded by Lanky Turtle of the recent November test sessions for the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona featuring much of the GTLM and GT Daytona machinery out on track.  The second video is the new Lexus RC F GT Daytona racer, and the third, is the new Acura NSX GT3.  Enjoy.

Mazda Unveils New Daytona Prototype International Race Car For WeatherTech Championship Prototype Class

Mazda's factory entry for the 2017 Daytona Prototype International division in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, has been unveiled.  Go below, to the link, to check out the full 411. 

http://www.imsa.com/news/112016/mazda-unveils-new-daytona-prototype-international-race-car-weathertech-championship

What It's Like To Race A Nissan GTP ZX-Turbo At Age 23

For up and coming racer Theo Bean, this had to be the thrill of a lifetime!

http://petrolicious.com/what-its-like-to-race-a-nissan-gtp-zx-turbo-at-age-23

IMSA: DeltaWing cancels Rolex 24 return

Sad news for their fans.  No mas, for the DeltaWing.  They will not race at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona in January as they had planned to do.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/136416-imsa-deltawing-cancels-rolex-24-return

FIA WEC news before the finale in Bahrain + a note on coverage of the race itself

First, a note on coverage of this Saturday's finale for the FIA World Endurance Championship, the 6 Hours of Bahrain, at the Sakhir circuit.  Only the first hour of the race itself, will be broadcast, on Fox Sports 1 this Saturday, November 19th.  So, if you want to see the first hour, you may, but will have to catch up with the rest of the race online.  Yours truly feels that with one hour of coverage, a full race report, is not justified.  So, there will be a race report, on Saturday, culled from the shortened race highlights when the Bahrain event, has reached it's conclusion.

In the meantime, here are some of the stories being followed, headed into the Bahrain race this weekend, via Sportscar365.

More will follow, during the week in the lead up to the race, as it develops.

Mondini Launches WEC LMP2 Team
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mondini-launches-lmp2-team/

O'Ward, Owen Confirmed with RGR Sport for Rookie Test
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/oward-owen-confirmed-with-rgr-sport-for-rookie-test/

Ford's Slowed in 10th BoP Change of Season

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fords-slowed-in-tenth-bop-change-of-season/

Adam Returns to No. 97 Aston Martin for 6H Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/adam-returns-to-no-97-aston-martin-for-6h-bahrain/

Webber: "The Best Thing We Can Do is Win"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/webber-the-best-thing-we-can-do-is-win/

Bahrain Wednesday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/bahrain-wednesday-notebook-3/

Stay tuned, for more news from Bahrain, the rest of this week, and again, an abbreviated race summary.

Blancpain Endurance Series Round 5: Nurburgring & 2016 Endurance Cup champions

The final race of the 2016 Blancpain Endurance Series, was a three hour event at the legendary Nurburgring, and was run in that format as opposed to last year's finale that was a 1,000 kilometer endurance event.  The winner of the race was the #16 Grasser Racing GRT Lamborghini Huracan GT3 was the winning car, shared by Mirko Bortolotti of Italy, German racer, Christian Engelhart, and Switzerland's Rolf Ineichen.  The Pro-Am division was won by a trio of German drivers racing for Black Pearl Racing in their #66 Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 (a year old car).  The drivers were Daniel Keilwitz, Blancpain series veteran Alexander Mattschull, and Steve Parrow. 

In the Am division (strictly for gentleman drivers, as the name implies), the race winners in the Eiffel Mountains were AKKA ASP with a trio of Frenchmen piloting their #87 Mercedes AMG GT3.  Jean-Luc Beaubelique, Maurice Ricci, and Gilles Vannelet.  Once again, your winners.

Overall/Pro: #16 Bortolotti/Engelhart/Ineichen     Lamborghini Huracan GT3

            Pro Am: #66 Keilwitz/Mattschull/Parrow   Ferrari 458 Italia

            Am: #87 Beaubelique/Ricci/Vannelet         Mercedes AMG GT3

In the championship itself, Garage 59 McLaren wins the overall trophy, with Shane van Gisbergen, and Rob Bell, who also had Frenchman Come Ledogar team with them for some races.  Congratulations, Garage 59!

Overall Champions: #59 Shane van Gisbergen & Rob Bell     Garage 59 McLaren 650S GT3

Kessel Racing and Ferrari win the Pro Am Cup, again, with an Italian trio driving their #11 Ferrari 488 GT3.  The new turbocharged Ferrari was driven to the championship by Alessandro Bonacini and Andrea Rizzoli, with their third driver, Michal Bronazewski, from Poland. 

Pro Am Champions: #11 Bonacini/Rizoli/Bronazewski     Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3

In the Am Cup, honors went to another Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia.  Car #888 was shared throughout the season by Aussie Liam Talbot, Italy's Marco Zannutini, and Russia's Vadim Gitlin. 

Am Champions: #888 Talbot/Zannutini/Gitlin     Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia

So, overall honors to Garage 59 and Pro Am/Am honors both to Kessel Racing.  Congratulations to the 2016 Blancpain Endurance Series champions!  Celebrate!  You earned it.  We'll see you for more Blancpain Endurance Series in 2017.  So long for now, everyone.

IMSA coverage

Yours truly still has to update a few of the 2016 IMSA races when there is time.  Also, there is lots and lots of news to cover for the upcoming 2017 season, as testing is already underway for the 2017 season and also, for the 55th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway Stay tuned, as there will be testing coverage, but yours truly has to backtrack on some of the races and find time to write about them.

FIA WEC news update

An update on the news from the FIA World Endurance Championship after Shanghai and before the finale in Bahrain.

Dillman to Make Debut in ESM Ligier for 6H Bahrain
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dillman-to-make-debut-in-esm-ligier-for-6h-bahrain/

Toyota's 2017 Full-Season Lineup Already Finalized
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/toyotas-2017-full-season-lineup-already-finalized/

FFF Team by ACM Targeting Future GTE Program
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/fff-team-by-acm-targeting-future-gte-program/

The latest Double Stint podcast.

Double Stint: Shanghai Recap; Gustavo Menezes Interview (11-8-16)

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-shanghai-recap-gustavo-menezes-interview-11-8-16/

Owen Jones: No "Absolute Timeframe" for Arrival of New P1 Manufacturers

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/owen-jones-no-absolute-timeframe-for-arrival-of-new-lmp1-manufacturers/

Real-Time Atmospheric Pressure Adjustments for GTE in 2017

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wec-to-implement-real-time-atmospheric-pressure-adjustments-in-gte/

Rebellion to Run Oreca 07 LMP2 Cars
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rebellion-to-run-oreca-07-lmp2-cars/

2017 LMP2 Speeds Under Debate
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/2017-lmp2-speeds-under-debate/

RGR Sport Contemplates Future Amid Driver Rating Concerns
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rgr-sport-contemplates-future-amid-driver-rating-dispute/

Chan: "We Hope to Have the First Chinese World Champion"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/chan-we-hope-to-have-the-first-chinese-world-champion/

Shanghai Content Recap

A recap of all the stories from the 6 Hours of Shanghai on Sportscar365.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-content-recap-2/

PR1 Ligier JS P217 Headlines November Daytona Test Entry

Testing for the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, and the 55th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, is set to get underway at Daytona International Speedway, next week.  The entry list as it currently stands, is included in this article.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/imsa-daytona-november-test-entry-list-released/

Ford planning a four-car effort at 2017 Rolex 24

Four factory Ford GT's could be racing in the GT Le Mans division, at the 55th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona coming up in January.

http://www.foxsports.com/motor/story/rolex-24-daytona-ford-gt-110916

2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 6

Part six of the 2001 running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 5

Part five of the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 4

Part four of the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 3

Part three of the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 2

Part two of the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 1

Part one of the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona. We join the one and only time that Speedvision covered this great race, flag to flag, with an all-star commentary team including Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Sam Posey, Rick Benjamin, Jeremy Dale, Greg Creamer, Calvin Fish, Andrew Marriott, Alain de Cadenet, Guy Hobbs, Dave Burns, and feature reporter, Sandy Heng.   

IMSA: Mid-engine Porsche 911 RSR tests continue

This story was published a couple of weeks ago.  But here are the details as testing of the new 2017 mid-engine Porsche 911 RSR continued.  Marshall Pruett, writing for Racer magazine, has the scoop.

http://www.racer.com/imsa/item/135800-imsa-mid-engine-porsche-911-rsr-tests-continue

post-race news after the 6 Hours of Shanghai

News and notes after yesterday's running of the 6 Hours of Shanghai for the FIA World Endurance Championship, with one race still remaining in the season, in Bahrain.

Ford Sweeps GTE-Pro in Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ford-sweeps-gte-pro-in-shanghai/

Signatech Alpine Locks Up LMP2 Title in Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/signatech-alpine-clinches-lmp2-title-g-drive-wins-in-shanghai/

Porsche dominates Shanghai, clinches manufacturer's title
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-dominates-shanghai-clinches-manufacturers-title/

VIDEO: Shanghai Race Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-shanghai-race-highlights-3/

KCMG Porsche Given Post-Race Penalty
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/kcmg-porsche-given-post-race-penalty/

Joest Exploring Future Options; LMP1 Non-Hybrid Possibility
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/joest-exploring-future-lmp1-non-hybrid-option/

Shanghai Post-Race Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-post-race-notebook-2/

GT World Championship Titles Proposed
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wec-proposing-gt-world-championship-title/

Seidl: Third Porsche for Le Mans Currently "Not a Topic"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/seidl-third-porsche-for-le-mans-currently-not-a-topic/

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 6 (the finish)

Audi has 39 starts, 16 wins, and 15 poles.  30 something podiums.  They have lots of wins at Le Mans, too.  They've been a sports car racing benchmark for many years.  Matteo Tuscher hits pit lane in the Rebellion.  Tuscher has had some issues with his Rebellion and has been on fire.  Game over for Matteo Tuscher.  1:48.5 for Brendon Hartley.  1:47.6 for Kamui Kobayashi.  This is getting very, very close.  The #2 Porsche will struggle on it's tires.  Will Kamui Kobayashi be able to get ahead?  Porsche is going to struggle for grip here.

55 minutes to go in Shanghai.  This race is not done yet.  Can Toyota leapfrog Porsche?  It's Jani vs. Kobayashi vs. Davidson.  Kobayashi is a second behind Neel Jani.  If they finish where they are now, Porsche will have 26 points ahead in the championship for Bahrain.  If Toyota didn't claim pole in Bahrain, then Porsche would have it.  Who will blink first to hit pit lane?  It's going to be tight as we get to the finish here.  Will Stevens, Pippo Derani, and Tom Blomqvist have all made their final pit stops in LMP2.  Oh wow!  Sebasiten Buemi tries inside Neel Jani.  He goes defensive and puts the Porsche offline.  The Toyota gets second!  This is massive for the driver's championship.  It's impossible for Porsche to swap their cars using team orders.

This is not over, dear viewers and dear readers.  This will be a fuel mileage race.  Porsche goes off line and the Toyota's are going to pounce.  Toyota's have not gone into the lane yet.  Neel Jani has trashed his tires.  He's got trouble and can't get any front end grip.  Anthony Davidson is just two seconds behind now.  If positions stand, the LM GTE Am title could be awarded at Bahrain during qualifying.  Holy cow!  This battle for the podium is gettiung hot.  Anthony Davidson is 2.3 seconds in-arrears of Neel Jani.  Kamui Kobayashi is coming, and coming fast.  We will see Kobayashi vs. Hartley for the final 45 minutes?  Yes please.  But, not really.

Will Stevens sets fastest lap in LMP2.  But it is not a record.  The grip is going away from this track as we get to the end.  We still have a good 40 minutes left.  The chips begin to fall.  Neel Jani takes tires after hitting pit lane and Toyota stays on track.  Will Toyota roll the dice?  Will they follow Porsche's strategy?  Apologies about LM GTE Am.  AF Corse would win the championship in Bahrain.  But Wolf Henzler is also close and Aston Martin would have to finish second in order for AF Corse to be champions.  Alpine in the pit lane again.  Just over a half hour to go.  Toyota is pushing, and I don't have to tell you, hard.

1:46.6 was the LMP1 lap record set in 2015 by Andre Lotterer.  Brendon Hartley lowers it to 1:45.9.  LM GTE Pro has a new record of 2:02.217 by Andy Priaulx.  Major development of the cars, yields quicker times.  But, as for the track here in Shanghai, grip has gone away over the last two or three years.  The driver's championship will go to Bahrain unless there is drama.  Porsche is going to win the manufacturer's championship and they will run #1 and #2 again in 2017.  Ford could not catch a break earlier in the year, but they are now on the verge of getting their second straight class win.

When will Toyota hit pit lane?  What will they do?  Toyota has the advantage and they can get away with rounding out the podium in second and third.  The battle for third in LMP2 will go to the wire.  Fuel only for LMP2 front runners.  Brendon Hartley is in the lane for the final stop for Porsche.  Kamui Kobayashi has to back the leader into his tracks.  Anthony Davidson cannot afford to be held up by Brendon Hartley.  Hartley has new tires.  Brendon Hartley has to keep his nose clean through traffic.

Rui Aguas and Wolf Henzler run for second place honors in LM GTE Am, for the championship, and they have to finish well in Bahrain.  The CLM makes it's final stop as the #7 Audi continues to recover.  Aston Martin has a monster fight on their hands to keep their chances alive against Ferrari for the manufacturer's championship.  Ferrari may be campaigning for a change in Balance of Performance for Bahrain.  The Toyota makes a pit stop.  Brendon Hartley leads with 22 minutes to go.  Fuel and tires for Toyota's final stop for Kamui Kobayashi.  No tires.  Wow!  That's a roll of the dice if there ever was one.

From here, there is time to run another eleven laps.  Will Anthony Davidson go for tires?  The pendulum swings another time.  39 seconds is the gap between Kamui Kobayashi and Neel Jani.  Has Toyota won the race?  We'll see.  #5 is in the lane now.  No tires.  Fuel only for Anthony Davidson.  It's a short stop.  No sign of the Porsche.  Where is the Porsche?  Don't use the curbs.  Twenty minutes to go.  They could have taken tires, but they have the time.  If they finish second and third behind the Porsche, then, the championship goes to the wire in Bahrain.

Less than 15 minutes remain now.  There's going to be a points shakeup here.  Things have settled down a shade.  Will the LMP2 crown be settled this evening?  We'll find out shortly.  The final podium place in LMP2 is being decided between Filipe Albuquerque and Nicolas Minassian.  Will Stevens and G Drive lead.  They want their second victory in succession.  Pippo Derani is going to test for Toyota, and Gustavo Menezes will test for Porsche.  Will these boys come back to WEC?  Will Derani be in IMSA?

How much will Nissan be involved with ESM?  They will only be an engine supplier.  We have five minutes left.  Porsche will win with Brendon Hartley for the race win and the manufacturer's championship. 195 laps.  660 miles.  Marcel Fassler has fought his way up to seventh.  He is taking time out of Simon Trummer.  The #98 Aston Martin has had a faultless race today.  Three minutes to go now.  We are coming to the end of the 6 Hours of Shanghai.

Will Stevens will bring G Drive another win.  Porsche will win their sixth (if not seventh), win of the FIA WEC 2016 season.  Brendon Hartley runs the fastest sector 3 time of his race, with used tires.  One extra pit stop, foiled Toyota's chances of winning this race.  For the second race in succession, we've had a fairly clean one.  195 laps is a distance record for this race.  There is an incident to investigate in LMP2.  Ford wins LM GTE Pro.  Aston Martin wins LM GTE Am.

Porsche defends their manufacturer's championship.  Audi has done this as well.  All three factories have won titles in the five years of the championship. 

Overall/LMP1: #1 Bernhard/Webber/Hartley     Porsche 919 Hybrid

             LMP2: #26 Stevens/Rusinov/Brundle    Oreca 05 Nissan

             LM GTE Pro: #67 Tincknell/Priaulx      Ford GT

             LM GTE Am: #98 Dalla Lana/Lamy/Lauda     Aston Martin V8 Vantage

A Ferrari has been off the road briefly.  Two Toyota's complete the podium places. But, Porsche wins in Shanghai.  We have one more race left.  The 6 Hours of Bahrain, in two weeks, on Saturday morning, November 19th.  So, instead of coffee to keep us fueled at night, have coffee with breakfast, and join us for all the action at the Sakhir circuit, to close out the 2016 season and crown the FIA WEC champions.  So long, for now, everyone.

  

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 5

Porsche still leads Toyota.  But, the #5 Toyota of Sebastien Buemi is pushing the sister #2 Porsche.  It is game on for Toyota right now.  Turn up the heat.  More tire debris is out there.  The racing surface is being reduced here at Shanghai International Circuit.  How much does everyone have left in the locker insofar as their tires?  We also have to look at the LM GTE Pro manufacturer's cup battle between Aston Martin and Ferrari.  It will be a pit stop battle between the two.  The #7 Audi will get back out but be at the bottom end of the top 20 cars.  The car went onto the jacks and then, straight down. 

Sam Bird is eleven and a half seconds behind the Porsche.  James Calado is now in the car.  This is in the GT class.  Aston Martin #95 will hit the lane, with Nikki Thiim at the wheel.  Game over for the team car, #97.  Garage door down.  Nikki Thiim will hand the car back to Marco Sorenson.  Toyota is in the lane as well with car #6.  Sebastien Buemi will hand over to Mike Conway.  Check that, no, he won't.  #95 is in the box.  Conway is still in the Toyota.  Fuel only.  No tires at all.  46 seconds for the stop.  That's a bold move in terms of tire degradation.  Wow.  Aston Martin #95 pits and thunders away with the big V8.  Oh no.  Never mind.  Toyota #6 only changed one tire, because of a tire puncture.

It is long enough for their extra stint.  Toyota can go to the end of this race.  They only need a couple stops.  They did change tires and top off the fuel tank.  That's the #5 Toyota that had the tire issue.  One left rear tire.  Check that.  It's Conway in #6, as our LM GTE Pro leader hits pit lane.  Mark Webber leads with Neel Jani second on the road.  Mike Conway is the fastest bloke on the road right now.  Mike Conway could do just one more stop to stay filled with fuel to the end of this race.  Porsche #77 and Ferrari #71 pit.  This is about manufacturer's points.  Davide Rigon will take over for Sam Bird.  Richard Lietz will take the wheel in the #77 machine. 

Can Mike Conway get to the end on one more pit stop?  Everyone ahead of him needs to make that work.  Conway will be pretty close.  Conway must close the gap.  He has to get 31-32 laps out of his fuel tank.  He needs performance in the tires, too, for the final six or seven laps of his stint.  Talk about having to have a boatload left in the locker.  He's going to have to get on with it.  Fuel saving can make a difference, and he can maintain pace.  Car #30 pits with Sean Gelael at the controls.  These boys are still in it.  Stephane Richelmi takes the LMP2 lead.  Can they win the championship?  #43 has to finish sixth or better.  Filipe Albuquerque is in the car.

Tom Blomqvist is actually at the wheel of car #30.  Blomqvist ran single seaters and then DTM.  Now he is in sports cars.  Oliver Webb passes Sebastien Buemi and is holding up the Toyota driver.  Get after him, Sebastien.  The CLM team should be back next year.  Toyota could run three cars next year including for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  It will be a Porsche vs. Toyota battle it seems.  LMP2 cars could surely also be on the podium.  They need to be reliable, and quick.  If they are, what will the rule makers think?

Mike Conway cannot afford to come up two laps short.  He just can't.  Neel Jani is being hounded by Sebastien Buemi.  Mark Webber leads by 52 seconds.  Has Mike Conway eliminated one pit stop to get to the checkers?  We'll see.  Whoa!  Sebastien Buemi has a run on the Porsche struggling for grip and Buemi takes it over Neel Jani!  Jani isn't giving up.  These two boys need two more pit stops.  Mike Conway is close, too.  He can do it on one more pit stop.  Conway is 20 seconds behind Buemi and Jani.  It is the if.  Will Conway be in the catbird seat?  If the Porsche 919 runs out of hybrid power, it doesn't have enough oomph from the internal combustion engine to maintain speed.  The 2.0 liter turbo 4 cylinder really has to work hard.

The leaders are in the 1:48 range.  Brendon Hartley will soon get into the #2 Porsche.  The Toyota also suffers a performance drop, but not as much as the Porsche.  This comparison is in terms of tires, not necessarily engine.  So, maybe it is irrelevant.  In the lane now, is Stephane Richelmi in the #36 Alpine.  Tom Blomqvist chasing.  We have just under an hour and a half to go.  Can the championship in LMP2 be kept open?  The leaders are due a pit stop in the next few laps.  Brendon Hartley will take over from Mark Webber.  Some circuits suit certain drivers.  Ford runs 1-2 in LM GTE Pro.  Andy Priaulx leads Stefan Mucke.  Paul Dalla Lana leads LM GTE Am.

Porsche in the lane.  Mark Webber, out.  Brendon Hartley, in.  Sebastien Buemi assumes the lead briefly.  Tires for Hartley.  Four tires, to be precise, and a very quick stop.  He got out in front of Mike Conway by a shade.  Mike Conway has to push to close the gap.  This is the real gap between first and second.  This is going to be close.  Mike Conway will have to do two 31 lap stints, for a total of 62 laps.  Brendon Hartley will resume in the race lead.  Oh dear.  Mike Conway is in the pits.  Thre has to be a problem with the Toyota.  Conway is out, and into the car goes one of the team drivers.  We don't know who.

Tires have to be the concern here.  Not fuel.  We didn't take the tire factor into account.  Buemi pits.  This will be a tire strategy race and not a fuel race in Shanghai.  Porsche #2 now gets second spot back.  Toyota is on the back foot.  There is a sting in the tail for Toyota.  This race is getting interesting.  We have an hour and fifteen minutes to go.  Oh dear.  Mike Conway may have suffered a puncture to be forced to make the second pit stop we saw.  It comes down to sheer pace.  If the #2 car finishes where they are, the clinch the driver's championship today, with an hour to go.  Will that happen? 

Kamui Kobayashi will be in the aero wash of Anthony Davidson in the sister Toyota.  Driver changes for the finish have been made.  Ooh!  He nearly runs into the team car!  This is crucial to keep the driver's championship alive, to give Toyota a real chance for the finale in Bahrain.  They won't swap these two cars around.  Ah.  There it is.  They do swap, cleanly, on a clean part of the circuit.  We saw this with Peugeot at the Nurburgring a few years ago and they came away with zippo.  Porsche won't fall into the trap of making a mistake.

Neel Jani has been caught and he'll be massively caught in a few more laps.  Just wait.  Anthony Davidson has to stay with his team mate.  Car #6 cannot win anymore.  They can't do the two long stints to gain track position.  Kamui Kobayashi has to chase Porsche #2 with Mike Conway following him home.  Filipe Albuquerque is being led by Will Stevens for LMP2.  Stevens leads the class.  Tom Blomqvist is still hanging in there, too.  Gianmaria Bruni is in touch with the two leading Ford's in GTE Pro, but he won't catch them.

The #83 Ferrari of Rui Aguas, Francois Perrodo, and company, will win the LM GTE Am championship at the end of this race.  Filipe Albuquerque and Nicolas Lapierre, they are battling for the final spot on the podium, and the LMP2 championship.  If it finishes this way, the championship may go to Signatech.  If Kobayashi wins today, Porsche would need to win in Bahrain to score the title.  We have just a single hour left in this race in Shanghai. 

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 4

Let's review where we've been so far.  Jackie Chan was grand marshal.  The race started and Brendon Hartley took off as Sebastien Buemi whistled by into turnh one.  In mid pack, Mathias Beche spun in front of everyone and was clobbered by Richie Stanaway in the Aston Martin.  Game over.  Toyota, Audi, Porsche, battle.  Alex Brundle went around both Manor and Alpine.  Stefan Mucke made a good move and we saw the SMP boys battle with Andre Lotterer right in there and ker-runch!  From the lead, a mega opening stint for G Drive and Alex Brundle.  Kobayashi and Lieb have been battling the whole way.  Romain Dumas, looking on. 

ESM hits the lane.  Routine service.  The #98 Aston Martin has dominated LM GTE Am.  Andy Priaulx and company have led LM GTE Pro for Ford.  Timo Bernhard and Romain Rusinov lead in the LMP1 and LMP2 divisions.  #35 for Baxi DC Racing in the lane.  Will David Cheng continue to run his team?  He is also the driver.  He ran last weekend in Asian Le Mans Series competition at Zhuhai.  There's a major racing scene developing in China and that's why the FIA WEC chooses to come and race here.  Big lockup for the #71 AF Corse Ferrari into the lane!  Yikes!  Change those flatspotted tires ASAP.  Davide Rigon and Sam Bird have been a lap up on the field.

#77 pits as Richard Lietz hands the car back to Michael Christensen for Proton Racing.  Porsche beats Ferrari to the punch!  Whoa!  That was unexpected.  Ford #66 and Ferrari #51 tussle.  James Calado vs. Olivier Pla, as Harry Tincknell leads the class in the sister car.  Kamui Kobayashi is second ahead of the #2 Porsche, taking three points out of the lead for the Porsche for the championship lead before the season finale.  Ten points is the lead in LM GTE Pro.  In GTE Am, Ferrari's 32 point lead could be reduced.  Aston Martin #98 is in the lane from the class lead.  Joel Camathias leads LM GTE Am in the #78 KCMG Porsche 911 RSR. 

This championship battle might just go to the wire.  For every single position that the Aston Martin's and Ferrari's can get, changes the points arithmetic all the time.  Toyota #5 of Buemi catches and passes Porsche #2 of Dumas.  Romain Dumas struggles in the traffic.  Not sure what the trouble for that car could be.  Dumas is using the hybrid energy in the battery pack of the Porsche 919.  Does he have enough stored energy to have a go?  Romain Rusinov held up Romain Dumas.  Olivier Pla makes a move on James Calado.  Benoit Treluyer takes two seconds out of the Porsche, so Audi are improving a little bit here, but not by much.

Marc Lieb has just not run as consistently in the second half of the season.  Qualifying was very close together.  Since Le Mans, the #2 Porsche has not had the pace to be competitive.  Benoit Treluyer carves his way through lapped traffic.  Ooh!  #8 spins!  That costs Benoit Treluyer ten seconds and that was Audi on Audi, red on red contact.  Good grief!  Do the stewards investigate Oliver Jarvis running into the side of his team mate?  You have to.  The team has to.  The stewards have to.  Do they?  Should they?  Christian Ried and Emmanuelle Collard battle in LM GTE Am for the manufacturer's cup between Porsche and Ferrari.

Romain Rusinov makes a pit stop and does a second stint in the car.  Check that.  Will Stevens will take over.  Sean Gelael makes a pit stop in the #30 ESM machine.  We have the #31 sister ESM car in the lane, too.  Two and a half hours remain in this race.  We have just a couple of pit stops left in this race.  We are three and a half hours in.  Timo Bernhard continues to lead.  Lots of off track news lately.  Mark Webber will retire and of course, Audi will not return.  Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich will also retire.  Many questions still to be answered as we keep racing. 

Into the pit lane comes the Porsche.  #2 is being taken over by Neel Jani.  Audi continues to have fuel issues, although it seems their mileage is getting better.  Timo Bernhard will pit and Mark Webber is going to take over the car, with just one race left in his FIA WEC career before he retires.  Audi #7 will have a driver change.  Porsche also in the lane.  #7 and #8 have different fueling rigs.  Romain Dumas ran 29 laps in his most recent stint.  Sebastien Buemi now inherits second spot.  New Michelin tires for Porsche #1.  #7 has trouble in the lane.  It's going to the garage and is on the dolly's. 

Audi has had a horrid weekend and a horrid year.  What a disappointing way to end a 17-18 year campaign.  Spare a thought for these blokes at Audi.  The VW board decided to can the program before they could have a chance to go for the title next year after such a hard season this year.  A terrible decision by the Volkswagen group.  Audi wanted to go out on a high, but that won't happen.  We see Porsche and Toyota still battling for position.  We've got two hours and fifteen minutes to go in the race.

Kamui Kobayashi pits and allows Porsche to lead.  Mike Conway takes over.  The hybrid cars will need two more pit stops unless we see a safety car period.  Just over two hours now remain.  Bruno Senna pits the #43 RGR car from fourth in class in LMP2.  Benoit Treluyer can only wait while work is being done on his Audi.  This team has fallen from their once lofty perch.  They will have to change the floor on car #7.  Neel Jani is the fastest bloke on the track on new tires.  Uh oh.  Pit lane infraction for the #71 Ferrari.  Davide Rigon did not have his seat belts on exiting.  This is a penalty.  Not good.

The #8 Audi had the connection for the air jack system, broken.  They are still working on the system.  A broken air jack connector, after the earlier contact.  It's over for Audi insofar as the championship.  They will end up fifth and sixth today.  Quit while you are ahead, or not.  Car #7 is going to fall into the clutches of the privateer #4 CLM with Oliver Webb at the wheel of it.  The CLM will move to sixth overall and in class.  Aston Martin has not had a good day in the manufacturer's standings today after Richie Stanaway's crash.  What can Nikki Thiim do with James Calado? 

#71 Ferrari is now in the lane.  Pit stop time for Abu Dhabi Proton.  Davide Rigon gets a penalty for a few minutes ago when he didn't have his seat belts fastened.  Audi's issues with the air jacks were that when they pulled the air line out, the system was not charged to properly let the car down onto the pavement. 

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 3

Tires and a driver change for the #95 Aston Martin.  Aston Martin and Dunlop tires have had a great relationship so far.  They have won a race already, together.  Two hours have now been completed.  Just under four hours remain now.  Porsche, Porsche, Audi, Toyota, Toyota.  Extreme Speed Motorsports leads LMP2.  Ford leads LM GTE Pro.  Check that.  James Calado in the Ferrari has taken the LM GTE Pro lead.  Problems continue for the #8 Audi.  They have 15 minutes less fuel in the tank than do their rivals in the leading positions, from Porsche.  Reinhold Joest, Ralf Juttner, and other team members, are looking at the problems.  The fuel rig is still suspect.  There's no doubt.

Maybe it is a car problem.  Unless it is internally within the fuel rig, it's got to be something in the fuel system of the car, as we see a touch between the Corvette #50 and the #37 SMP car.  Egad!  Bang!  That was a real wallop.  The BR01 moved in on the Corvette.  Kiril Ladygin tried not to get into the marbles.  Chris Cumming was right on his gearbox.  Cumming is in the lane.  Pit stop time too for the #71 Ferrari 488 GTE.  Sam Bird out, and Davide Rigon in.  Massive championship implications in GTE here as Aston Martin is blocking Ferrari.  This is brute force racing between Marco Sornsen and also, the Ferrari Gianmaria Bruni!

Bruni and Sorenson were side by side, and Bruni made the pass stick.  Francois Perrodo gives the #83 Ferrari 458 Italia in LM GTE Am over to Rui Aguas.  Bruni drops a wheel and makes a pass giving just enough racing room.  Marc Lieb throws more tire debris around.  These are softball size chunks of rubber.  Back in the 1990s in the McLaren F1, Andy Wallace got glass in his eye when tire debris punched through the windshield, and we saw lots of wheel louver damage on cars from tire debris back in the American Le Mans Series days.  Audi's grim season continues to it's conclusion at the end of this year.

Audi has not been a factor for this entire race since the red lights went out three hours ago.  Paul Loup Chatin may go to the sin bin for abusing track limits.  Aston  Martin in the pit lane.  Paul Dalla Lana, out.  Mathias Lauda, in.  Aston Martin has led 95% of the laps in the last three races that have been run in the FIA WEC.  Timo Bernhard has 24 seconds in hand over Mark Webber as Kamui Kobayashi is trying to leapfrog the Porsche before the final race of the season in Bahrain in a few weeks. 

David Heinemeier Hanson leads LM GTE Am in the Abu Dhabi Proton Porsche.  The Bahrain finale will be a night race.  Kamui Kobayashi is coming.  We have not seen a good race for the #43 RGR Sport Ligier in the hands of Bruno Senna.  Ford GT in the lane.  Stefan Mucke pits, earlier than we thought he would.  The #66 Ford had a quick stop for the crew to take a look at whether there was damage to the car.  Marc Lieb runs a 1:48.8, a full second plus more slower than Timo Bernhard.  Kamui Kobayashi is pulling the gap down. 

We are two hours and 20 minutes into this race so far.  Both Audi's have lost a lap to the leader.  #8 has lost one and the #7 is on the tail end of the lead lap.  Benoit Treluyer driving the #7 and Loic Duval in #8.  Simon Trummer in the #4 ByKolles CLM P1 01 is holding up the leading cars.  First and second in the championship lead each other.  Kobayashi has to make a move on Marc Lieb.  It is hammer time right now.  Go for the gusto.  The LMP1 Hybrid battle intensifies.  Marc Lieb is not giving up trying to pass Kamui Kobayashi.  Marc Lieb blows by Kobayashi!  Is he out of hybrid power?  No.

There's 23 points in the championship for second and third between #2 and #6.  Pick your moments.  Don't throw it away.  The #2 Porsche wants to have some decent finishes in the last few races here.  Timo Bernhard has 30 seconds on the rest of the field.  Slow puncture for one of the cars as the #37 SMP BR01 of Kiril Ladygin pits.  No driver change as first thought.  Fuel only.  Benoit Treluyer is starting to pick up the pace as we see a battle in LM GTE Pro.  Porsche, Ferrari, Ferrari.  Aston Martin has to win to take the championship fight to the end in Bahrain.

In LM GTE Am, the 2016 cars from Pro this year, will be grandfathered into the LM GTE Am class next year.  RGR Sport gets a penalty.  The #43 RGR Sport by Morand car has to finish sixth or better to beat Signatech Alpine for the LMP2 championship.  The #44 Manor has lost a lap due to pace.  But after being on pole, their surviving car is out, after Mathias Beche spun and crashed after being hit by the Aston Martin in the first hour of the race, the section yours truly did not see.

Romain Rusinov stays in the G Drive car after the pit stop.  Sean Gelael takes over the #30 car from Antonio Giovanazzi.  Timo Bernhard stretches his lead.  Stefan Mucke has made an unscheduled pit stop and dropped to fourth, while Andy Priaulx has the sister #67 Ford GT in the class lead.  Porsche, Toyota, Porsche, Toyota, Audi, Audi, the top six.  ESM leads LMP2.  Andy Priaulx leads LM GTE Pro, and Mathias Lauda leads LM GTE Am for Aston Martin.  The #8 Audi squad is still having problems.

David Heinemier Hanson and Rui Aguas battle in LM GTE Am.  Ooh!  Gustavo Menezes has come a cropper in some way.  He's gone off the road someplace.  Bruno Senna and Gustavo Menezes actually run close together as there has been more concern for the #44 Manor car that was in the garage for eight minutes, with Richard Bradley at the controls.  David Heinemeier Hanson and Rui Aguas have had a real dust up these last couple laps.  As soon as the leaders hit traffic, they lose loads of time over successive laps.

Marc Lieb hits the pit lane.  Audi is also ready to service one of their cars.  Porsche has only gotten 30 laps on a fuel run during this race.  The #7 Audi also pits for new Michelin tires.  This is a stop actually for both cars (#8 and #7).  Heinemeier Hanson is pushed wide by the delayed Ford GT of Stefan Mucke.  The #8 Audi is in the lane.  Fuel only for the Audi. Timo Bernhard now is in the lane, and we see both Toyota's moving to the lead.  Toyota are 1-2 at the moment.  This is a long stop for Audi and Oliver Jarvis.  His future is in jeopardy after Audi withdraws at the end of the year.

They are having issues with the pit stop.  Audi's shock announcement meant that they wanted to go out on a high note.  But, so far in China, they are going out with a thud, not a bang.  We near the halfway mark.  Timo Bernhard still leads Kamui Kobayashi as Romain Dumas has taken over the #2 Porsche.  Will Mark Webber also seal the deal?  Porsche #1 are the defending race champions here in Shanghai.  Drivers are really pushing hard here in Shanghai.  Audi's pit issues are getting worse.  They are trying to fix their pit stops, but nothing is working right now.

1:47.9 for Romain Dumas, as he is gaining on Sebastien Buemi.  Romain Rusinov leads LMP2 over Sean Gelael.  Gustavo Menezes is third in class followed by Bruno Senna.  Romain Dumas has to finish the season for the championship.  No heroics required.  They can control their own destiny.  Marco Sorensen, Andy Priaulx, Gianmaria Bruni, these three are the top runners in LM GTE Pro as a Porsche slides luridly off the road and recovers!  Eek!  Ryan Dalziel has the #31 ESM Ligier in the pit lane.

We've seen tire issues in LM GTE Pro during this race after the first lap, first hour wreck.  Bruno Senna pits, and so does Stefan Mucke.  H will have a driver change in the #66 Ford GT.  The #44 Manor car had damage after running into one of the SMP cars.  Richard Bradley is at the wheel.  Gustavo Menezes brings the #36 Alpine into the pits and Stephane Richelmi will take over the driving chores.  These blokes know they are on the cusp of the championship.  They have to keep their noses clean.  Once you've made a mistake, you have to control the adrenaline.

Stefan Mucke ran fewer laps than Ford wanted him to.  Andy Priaulx should pit for his first stop, soon, while Olivier Pla in the sister Ford GT has pitted, four times.  

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 2

Porsche, Audi, Porsche, Toyota, Toyota, Audi.  This is the top six in the running order right now.  34 laps have been completed.  Paul Dalla Lana takes over the #98 Aston Martin.  People continue to file into the speedway to watch the race.  You have plenty of time to see the action, as Proton Abu Dhabi Racing pits.  Andre Lotterer in the Audi is catching Anthony Davidson in the Toyota.  Khaled Al Qubaisi is in the #88 car.  Romain Brandela is in the #50 Larbre Competition Corvette.  Brendon Hartley stretches his lead over Lucas di Grassi. 

Once more, let's go back to hour one.  Yours truly missed it.  Green light!  Brendon Hartley was beaten into the first corner by Sebastien Buemi in the Toyota.  Mathias Bche spun in one of the Manor's and there was a huge wreck for the Ford and Aston Martin GT cars.  Game over for Richie Stanaway who got clouted after hitting the Ford GT.  LMP1 has seen some battling.  Alex Brundle had a fabulous start, fighting through to take the lead from the Alpine #36 leading the championship in LMP2.  Porsche #2 has been able to have a competitive race so far as Mike Conway passes his Toyota team mate.  Tire grip is at a premium here in Shanghai. 

Stefan Mucke moved ahead of the Ferrari's in LM GTE Pro.  Under the safety car, the pits were closed, putting some teams out of sequence.  Brendon Hartley leads this motor race by 6.6 seconds.  Hartley is told to look after the car and watch out for the turn 16 curve.  #71 is pittingh for a full service stop and a driver change.  Sam Bird, takes over the car.  Mikhail Aleshin and Vitaly Petrov battle in LMP2 right now.  Big lockup for Vitaly Petrov in the #37 SMP Racing BR01.  Strakka Racing will not run the final few WEC races this year as you read in the news update yesterday.

Vitaly Petrov has to respect track limits.  Mikhail Aleshin has also been warned about track limits.  Tisk, tisk, tisk.  Watch your lines, boys.  The drivers will be able to push harder deeper into the tire stint.  Michael Christensen is driving the #77 Porsche.  Nicolas Lapierre is off the road somehow trying to move past James Calado in the #51 Ferrari 488 GTE.  We are just over an hour in and the trouble is going off line and picking up tire clag.  These are not tiny crumbles of rubber.  They are big wads of it, softball size. 

Uh oh.  Fueling rig issues for Audi.  Thhis means they will have to short stint their fuel.  Lucas di Grassi did not get a full fuel load on the most recent pit stop for his #8 Audi R18.  The #97 Aston Martin and one of the Manor's as mentioned, are two of the cars that are now out of this race.  Ooh.  Some close racing as Anthony Davidson gets around a GT car.  Audi has been on the back foot with the fuel, because the fuel cell size is smaller with the diesel motor.  #2 leads the championship.  Porsche leads Toyota and Audi.

Audi's woes continue with their fueling rig.  We watch a couple Porsches racing each other.  Francois Perrodo has been passed by a couple of the Porsche drivers.  Audi chief Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich explains the fuel system was out of sync, so the tank was half full.  There was no chance to refuel the car.  The pit crew has to change the hose that is attached to the fueling rig itself.  Neel Jani has made his way to second.  Both Porsche's lead both Toyota's and both Audi's.  No further action from the marshals for a kerfuffle between the #78 KCMG Porsche and the #51 Ferrari.

More battles in LMP2.  Ho Pin Tung tries but runs wide.  Vitaly Petrov could not get by his rival Vitaly Petrov.  Outside pass.  No room.  He runs wide and just barely makes the corner.  Earlier, we saw an LMP1 car go by, and push the "bye bye button".  Tee hee!  Next year of course, we will see spec LMP2 cars next year, with spec engines.  Will there be driver shuffles based on the driver ratings system?  It could be.  It could be an end of an era here in the current guise of LMP2.  Teams could have to find well funded, silver rated drivers, from GP2 and GP3.  Make that gold rated drivers, who bring in the dough.

Porsche looks good.  They have a big lead in the manufacturer's championship and are in the catbird seat to clinch it at the end of this race should they keep their lead.  SMP Racing was battling with both cars and poor old Andre Lotterer was caught in the scrap, losing a dive plane off the front of the Audi.  That's not good.  Aerodynamic issues ahoy.  Alex Brundle runs well in the G Drive car in LMP2.  Reel off the laps.  He's fought through the field and now has gotten to the front and is controlling the LMP2 pace at the moment.

Romain Rusinov will be the next driver in followed by Will Stevens.  Pierre Kaffer is trying to get a position back.  No dice.  Third place in LMP2 is Antonio Giovanizzi.  These huge chunks of rubber are still on the road.  Matt Rao is pulling in on the Toyota to get a free draft off the LMP1 car.  Damage to the front of the #35 car.  The Baxi DC Racing car has gotten damaged and the nose is insecure with the headlight cover broken off.

You cannot race at these high speeds with damage like that.  It isn't safe and isn't effective.  #35 is in the lane now.  Driver change for car #35.  The #71 Ferrari has made a pass.  Ouch!  #35 clobbered one of the Porsche's!  Khaled Al Qubaisi in the #88 car wanted the same space as the Alpine.  Two into one won't go.  Baxi is back out with a new nose.  No worries.  Paul Loup Chatin at the controls.  Harry Tincknell and Paul Dalla Lana are the GTE Pro and GTE Am leaders right now.  Chris Cumming makes a routine stop for ESM.

Brendon Hartley has been in the Porsche for an hour and 40 minutes at the moment.  Alpine may continue with ORECA next year.  The bulkhead of the new 2017 car, can be transformed for the Alpine.  But the Ligier cannot be transferred to the new spec.  #36 could earn the LMP2 championship in today's race depending on what happens between now and the end.  Hartley leads for Porsche over his team mate by 18 seconds.  Antonio Giovanazzi is leading LMP2 right now.  Ford is 1-2 in LM GTE Pro.  Paul Dalla Lana are pushing in LM GTE Am.

Will Porsche change their tactics to open the gap?  This hasn't been seen yet.  At the start of this race, Brendon Hartley got in front of the Toyota of Sebastien Buemi just before the safety car was called.  Problems for the #13 Rebellion.  There's an issue that the team has found after their routine fuel stop.  Porsche has done so well this year.  They had three points at the beginning of the year until they won Le Mans.  We watch the two Ford GT's running together in LM GTE Pro.  34 seconds between the Ford's and the rest of the field.

We are now ten minutes away from the close of the second hour.  Pit stop time for Porsche #2 and Audi #7.  ESM #30 now leads in LMP2.  An on track pass between Anthony Davidson and the sister car. Porsche #1 pits and the Audi #7 pits and has an unsafe release.  Audi just does not have the pace here.  Stephane Sarrazin leads in the #6 Toyota TS050 and will have to pit ASAP.  The Larbre Corvette has made a pit stop in LM GTE Am.  A new nose for the #1 Porsche.  Oh dear.

Toyota leaves the lane and Kazuki Nakajima has taken over.  The Porsche underwent a nose change because the rubber debris buildup has clogged the radiators, overheating the brakes and also putting a load on the aerodynamic surfaces under the car.  Porsche has things under control now.  Remember that Toyota pulled a surprise to win their home race in Japan.  What will happen as we continue in China?  Toyota #6 has now entered the pit lane.  Timo Bernhard has now taken the lead of this race.  Marc Lieb is now in the #2 car.  Loic Duval is third in the #8 Audi.

Porsche #2 has had lots of bad luck since they won overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  Both SMP cars go side by side.  Andy Priaulx is now driving the #67 Ford GT, after a pit stop where he replaced Harry Tincknell.   

6 Hours of Shanghai: Hour 1

Yours truly fell asleep, and is joining the action, 45 minutes into the 6 Hours of Shanghai.  Brendon Hartley is leading for Porsche at the moment.  LMP2 cars are pitting at the moment here at the Shanghai International Circuit.  Here is the pre-race notebook from Shanghai.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-pre-race-notebook/

Brendon Hartly stays in the car and has new Michelin tires.  They used nearly half their tires in qualifying.  Three of eight allotted sets.  Porsche, Audi, Porsche.  Alex Brundle, Andy Priaulx, and Pedro Lamy, lead so far.  Ferrari now takes the lead in LM GTE Pro.  Emmanuel Collard in the #83 Ferrari pits for routine service and a driver change.  Davide Rigon and the #71 car had a slow tire puncture and pit under safety car conditions.  Marco Sorenson and Aston Martin make a stop.  We saw this team using long fuel runs back in Japan a few weeks ago.

We are an hour into the race. Let's go back to hour one.  Yours truly missed it.  Green light!  Brendon Hartley was beaten into the first corner by Sebastien Buemi in the Toyota.  Mathias Beche spun in one of the Manor's and there was a huge wreck for the Ford and Aston Martin GT cars.  Game over for Richie Stanaway who got clouted after hitting the Ford GT.  LMP1 has seen some battling.  Alex Brundle had a fabulous start, fighting through to take the lead from the Alpine #36 leading the championship in LMP2.  Porsche #2 has been able to have a competitive race so far as Mike Conway passes his Toyota team mate.  Tire grip is at a premium here in Shanghai.

Stefan Mucke moved ahead of the Ferrari's in LM GTE Pro.  Under the safety car, the pits were closed, putting some teams out of sequence.

FIA World Endurance Championship news from Shanghai

Here's the latest news from the FIA World Endurance Championship, before tonight's 6 Hours of Shanghai.

Floury: Oreca 07's Potential "Extremely Interesting"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/floury-oreca-07s-potential-is-extremely-interesting/

Porsche Looking to Lock Up World Championship in Shanghai

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-looking-to-lock-up-manufacturers-world-championship-in-shanghai/

The latest Double Stint podcast.

Double Stint: Zhuhai Recap (Asian LMS); Audi LMP1 Withdrawal Analysis (11-1-16)

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/double-stint-zhuhai-recap-audi-lmp1-withdrawal-analysis-11-1-16/

Algarve Pro Targeting WEC Effort in 2018
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/algarve-pro-racing-targeting-wec-effort-in-2018/

McNish: Audi's Exit Will Not Result in WEC's Collapse
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/mcnish-audis-exit-will-not-result-in-wecs-collapse/

Sweeping GTE BoP Changes for 6H Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/sweeping-gte-bop-changes-for-6h-shanghai/

Shanghai Thursday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-thursday-notebook-2/

VIDEO: Scrutineering Timelapse
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-scrutineering-timelapse/

Dunlop LMP2 Tire Test Set for Sebring
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/dunlop-lmp2-tire-test-set-for-sebring/

VIDEO: 2016 WEC Season-to-Date Rewind
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-2016-wec-season-to-date-rewind/

Hartley Tops Free Practice 1 in Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hartley-tops-free-practice-1-in-shanghai/

Blomqvist: "I Think I'm in a Really Good Place Right Now"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/blomqvist-i-think-im-in-a-really-good-place-right-now/

Porsche Quickest on Friday in Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/porsche-quickest-on-friday-in-shanghai-2/

Chatin Replaces Giovonazzi in Bahrain Rookie Test
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/chatin-replaces-giovonazzi-in-bahrain-rookie-test/

Shanghai Friday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-friday-notebook-3/

VIDEO: Shanghai Friday Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-shanghai-friday-highlights-2/

Jarvis: "We Have to Go Out There and Win The Last Two Races"
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jarvis-we-have-to-go-out-there-and-win-the-last-two-races/

VIDEO: Behind The Scenes With RGR Sport: Timing Stand
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-behind-the-scenes-with-rgr-sport-timing-stand/

Jarvis Quickest in FP3
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/jarvis-quickest-in-fp3/

WEC Retains Original Nurburgring Date for 2017
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/wec-retains-nurburgring-date-for-2017/

WEC: No BoP Change Made to Ferrari 488 in Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ferrari-488s-hit-with-overnight-bop-change/

Ford Sweeps GTE-Pro Front Row In Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ford-sweeps-gte-pro-front-row-in-shanghai/

Hartley, Webber Take Pole for 6H Shanghai
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/hartley-webber-take-pole-for-6h-shanghai/

VIDEO: Shanghai Qualifying Highlights
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/video-shanghai-qualifying-highlights-2/

Ullrich to Step Down as Head of Audi Motorsport
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ullrich-to-hand-over-to-gass-at-end-of-year/

Ferrari in Dispute Over Balance of Performance
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/ferrari-in-dispute-over-gte-pro-bop/

Shanghai Saturday Notebook
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/shanghai-saturday-notebook-3/

Late tonight, we race, in Shanghai.  Stay tuned for all the action.

2000 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 2

Part two of the 2000 running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, through the final six or so hours of the race, leading to the dramatic conclusion, on Sunday.  In addition, here is video of the race highlights.

2000 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 1

The 2000 running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, saw a bit of a trend start, where GT cars beat the Prototype racers for the outright victory, on a couple of occasions, which had only been done a few other times, and in the 1994 edition of the Rolex 24 in the modern era.  Keep in mind, in some instances in the 1970s, there had been GT cars that had gone on to win the overall at the Daytona 24. 

Quite a strong field was assembled.  2000 marked the debut of the then new Grand American Road Racing Association.  Here is part one of two parts of the 2000 race broadcast.  Marty Reid and Jeremy Dale, in the booth, have the call of the action, with pit reporting from Bill Weber and Dave Burns.

Are Turn-Key Race Cars Helping Or Hurting Our Sport?

A very good question, posed by the folks at NASportscar.com.  Is it better, for a team to invest time, effort and money, to build their own, one-off, special racing car?  Or, is it better to go with a car they can buy and take to the track to race through the entire season? 

http://nasportscar.com/are-turn-key-race-cars-helping-or-hurting-our-sport/

United Autosports Confirms 2017 Le Mans LMP2 Entry

Full season ELMS in LMP2 also targeted.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/11/03/united-autosports-confirm-2017-le-mans-lmp2-programme-with-new-ligier.html

Magnus Racing considers 2017 options

Magnus Racing has a couple of options on the table for the 2017 season.  They could end up in one of three possible series, or, multiple ones.  Those are either the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, Pirelli World Challenge, or, even the European Le Mans Series.

http://www.racer.com/pwc/item/136036-gt-magnus-racing-considers-2017-options

1999 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 3

Part three of the 1999 running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

1999 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 2

Part two of the 1999 running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

1999 Rolex 24 at Daytona Part 1

A classic Ford vs. Ferrari battle, was what the 1999 edition of the Rolex 24 at Daytona turned out to be.  For the race call, we join Bob Varsha and Jeremy Dale in the booth, and Marty Reid and Bill Weber in the pit lane.

Acura Announces Drivers for 2017 IMSA and PWC seasons

Drivers have been officially announced for the new Acura NSX programs to be run by Michael Shank Racing in IMSA, and RealTime Racing in Pirelli World Challenge.

Here are those lineups:

IMSA: Michael Shank Racing

Ozz Negri
Katherine Legge
Andy Lally
Jeff Segal

Pirelli World Challenge: RealTime Racing

Ryan Eversley
Peter Kox

http://nasportscar.com/acura-announces-drivers-for-2017-imsa-and-pwc-seasons/